Joint Powers Board Presentation

Dear Felton Library Friend --

This is a reminder that our group will be presenting its vision of the new Felton branch library to the Library Joint Powers Board on Monday, November 6th. Although no board action is scheduled for that night regarding Felton, the FLF steering committee urges each of you to consider coming in support of this effort. A large turnout from our membership rolls of over 200 people will remind the board that those of us who come to each monthly meeting and speak for the Felton branch represent a sizable community that cares about its library.

The presentation, which lasts about fifteen minutes, will be made November 6, 7:30 p.m., at the Central Branch Library meeting room. Once we know the its place on the agenda, we will send one more reminder, but it will probably occur soon after 7:30. Unless there is some other issue important to Felton later on the agenda, in which case we may urge people to stay, we would anticipate that most SLV attendees would choose to go home after the presentation.

So, please mark this date on your calendar, tell your neighbors about it, and once again show the Joint Powers Board how strongly you feel about the need for excellent library service in the San Lorenzo Valley.

Carpool arrangements will be announced closer to the meeting.

Thank you,
For FLF,
Paul Machlis

FLF Vision Statement

The Future Felton Branch Library -- A Vision

The members of Felton Library Friends endorse the following guidelines as we work with the board and administration of the Santa Cruz Public Library towards a new Felton branch library.

• The Felton branch of the future should be envisioned as a vital community-based learning center, one that integrates current models of public libraries as gathering places, activity centers, and community- support institutions. Whenever possible, the library should take advantage of collaborative possibilities within the community, such as promoting the library and its site in relation to watershed education, the arts community, the public and private schools, the homeschool population, churches, and other organizations. The library should be built in a location easily accessible by car, bus, bicycle, and

foot, preferably in the central Felton business district, in order to maximize library usage by residents.

• The Felton branch should be designed following extensive input from community members and library professionals, resulting in a design that has the full support of both users and staff. The design should address all the needs identified in the Felton Library Needs Assessment Project of 1999. A revised

community needs assessment and a design workshop should be among the methods utilized to elicit maximum participation of all parties in the plan of a new building.

• The new Felton branch should address all the needs identified in the Felton Library Needs Assessment

Project (1999), including more shelf space to accommodate a wider variety/selection of materials; separate areas for use by children, youth, and adults; comfortable furniture; good lighting; reading areas; more parking; better bathrooms; handicap and stroller access. Additional needs may be revealed in a revised community needs assessment.

• The Felton branch should include a meeting and activity space that serves the needs of children, youth, and adults. Such space could also serve a variety of other public or staff needs, following the principle of “maximum space flexibility” in library design (Standards for Library Services and Facilities,

2006).

• The Felton branch should serve the information needs of youth through the high school level, including an electronic homework center, and should therefore approach the standards set for Tier II (regional) libraries in regard to collection size, staffing, and reference service. As suggested in

Santa Cruz Libraries in the 21st Century (2006), “The

Tier System of Branch Development is an appropriate way to organize services in Santa Cruz County, and should continue to be used. However, it may be that at certain sites (notably the San Lorenzo Valley) staffing patterns and other services may need to be modified from the Tier System standards.”

• The Felton branch should meet or exceed the minimum space standard for a Tier I (community) library, as stated in Standards for Library Services and Facilities (2006): 7500 square feet, with 68% public space (5100 sq. ft.) and 32% staff work space (2400 sq. ft.).

• The Felton branch should meet the highest standards for green building (Santa Cruz Libraries in the 21st Century, 2006), should have an architectural design that reflects the character of San Lorenzo Valley (Felton Town Plan, 1987), and should be integrated

with the building site so that significant natural features are preserved.

Felton Library Friends, October 2006